Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Showing posts with label Kampuchea Thmei newspaper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kampuchea Thmei newspaper. Show all posts
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sacrava's Family Cartoon: Xcambodia's Family trees
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Media Mogul Hun Mana offered 80% of Kampuchea Thmei ownership … for free (sic!)
Media mogul Hun Mana, scion of the top food chain of Cambodia's Family Trees (aka “Family of the Thieves of the Nation” in Khmer) (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)Friday, October 16, 2009
KI-Media
Try Heng, the owner of the Kampuchea Thmei, one of Cambodia’s largest newspapers, announced that Hun Mana, Hun Sen’s daughter and director-general of Bayon TV and radio, is set to take control of the Kampuchea Thmei.
The Cambodia Daily reported that, according to Try Heng, Hun Mana will receive 80% of the newspaper revenues. Try Heng also claimed that he offered the majority ownership of the newspaper to the PM’s daughter “without her paying any money for the privilege” (i.e., free of charge?). “The reason she wants to have shares is because she loves Kampuchea Thmei,” Try Heng was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.
In its September 16-30 edition, the Free Press Magazine online reported that the 80% control of the Kampuchea Thmei in fact came at a cost of $750,000 to Cambodia’s media mogul Hun Mana. Needless to say that with her family sitting at the top of food chain in Cambodia’s Family Trees (also known as “Family of the Thieves of the Nation” in Khmer), the ¾ million dollar cost to acquire the interest in the Kampuchea Thmei must have been chump change that can be characterized as “nearly free.”
In any case, we pray that deforestation in Cambodia is not accelerated by Hun Mana’s takeover of this daily newspaper, because, as we all know, large publication requires large amount of papers, and papers are produced from wood pulp obtained from cut down trees (thus our concerns).
On the other hand, Moeun Chhean Naridh, the director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies, indicated that the takeover of the Kampuchea Thmei by Hun Mana is a legitimate cause of concerns because sensitive information on government officials could be self-censored by employees working for the perpetual prime minister’s daughter. He cited Bayon TV news coverage as example of “very biased” report.
The Cambodia Daily reported that, according to Try Heng, Hun Mana will receive 80% of the newspaper revenues. Try Heng also claimed that he offered the majority ownership of the newspaper to the PM’s daughter “without her paying any money for the privilege” (i.e., free of charge?). “The reason she wants to have shares is because she loves Kampuchea Thmei,” Try Heng was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.
In its September 16-30 edition, the Free Press Magazine online reported that the 80% control of the Kampuchea Thmei in fact came at a cost of $750,000 to Cambodia’s media mogul Hun Mana. Needless to say that with her family sitting at the top of food chain in Cambodia’s Family Trees (also known as “Family of the Thieves of the Nation” in Khmer), the ¾ million dollar cost to acquire the interest in the Kampuchea Thmei must have been chump change that can be characterized as “nearly free.”
In any case, we pray that deforestation in Cambodia is not accelerated by Hun Mana’s takeover of this daily newspaper, because, as we all know, large publication requires large amount of papers, and papers are produced from wood pulp obtained from cut down trees (thus our concerns).
On the other hand, Moeun Chhean Naridh, the director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies, indicated that the takeover of the Kampuchea Thmei by Hun Mana is a legitimate cause of concerns because sensitive information on government officials could be self-censored by employees working for the perpetual prime minister’s daughter. He cited Bayon TV news coverage as example of “very biased” report.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Pro-CPP Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmei publish fairy tale news reports?
Garment workers say media were wrong about protest
Monday, 31 August 2009
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post
Monday, 31 August 2009
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post
Spokesman calls Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmey reports a 'trick' to undermine the unity and message of factory workers.
A representative for several thousand workers from the Sky High garment factory in the capital's Dangkor district said Sunday that demonstrators protesting earlier this month against low wages and poor working conditions did not target the head of a Cambodian trade union, as local press reports last week suggested.
Chan Dary, 29, a representative for workers at Sky High, said Sunday that reports published in two Khmer-language dailies - Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmey - incorrectly stated that workers had filed complaints against Yun Rithy, head of the Khmer Youth Federation of Trade Unions, for inciting them to protest.
"We have never complained about Yun Rithy. This is a fairy tale spread by the owner of the [Sky High] factory to defame us and to deter influential people, NGOs or other organisations from assisting us," Chan Dary said.
Thousands protest
Workers are protesting against the factory, not Yun Rithy, Chan Dary said.
"We want the factory owner to agree to our conditions, which we feel are not difficult to implement. But they don't want to give in, so they they try instead to make us suffer," he said.
Sky High workers began their protest on August 24, with several hundred workers assembling in front of the factory. Last week, the number of protesters reached into the thousands.
Yun Rithy said Sunday he had no direct involvement with the protests and rejected claims that he influenced anyone to demonstrate.
"I don't know anything about it, and I have incited no one to do anything," he said. "I have only tried to help workers because we are an organisation that supports labour rights and benefits for workers, and in this I have done nothing wrong."
"These problems I cannot solve on my own. I can just investigate and urge [factory owners] to respect the labour law," he said.
Getting the story wrong
Keo Sarum, 27, a worker at Sky High, said local newspaper reports got the story wrong about
the protests.
"We did not collect thumbprints for a complaint against Yun Rithy, as the newspapers said. This was a trick by the factory owner in an attempt to divide the workers," Keo Sarum said.
"I would like to ask the publishers of [Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmey] where they got their information. Before they write something about us, they should come talk to us," She said.
A representative for several thousand workers from the Sky High garment factory in the capital's Dangkor district said Sunday that demonstrators protesting earlier this month against low wages and poor working conditions did not target the head of a Cambodian trade union, as local press reports last week suggested.
Chan Dary, 29, a representative for workers at Sky High, said Sunday that reports published in two Khmer-language dailies - Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmey - incorrectly stated that workers had filed complaints against Yun Rithy, head of the Khmer Youth Federation of Trade Unions, for inciting them to protest.
"We have never complained about Yun Rithy. This is a fairy tale spread by the owner of the [Sky High] factory to defame us and to deter influential people, NGOs or other organisations from assisting us," Chan Dary said.
Thousands protest
Workers are protesting against the factory, not Yun Rithy, Chan Dary said.
"We want the factory owner to agree to our conditions, which we feel are not difficult to implement. But they don't want to give in, so they they try instead to make us suffer," he said.
Sky High workers began their protest on August 24, with several hundred workers assembling in front of the factory. Last week, the number of protesters reached into the thousands.
Yun Rithy said Sunday he had no direct involvement with the protests and rejected claims that he influenced anyone to demonstrate.
"I don't know anything about it, and I have incited no one to do anything," he said. "I have only tried to help workers because we are an organisation that supports labour rights and benefits for workers, and in this I have done nothing wrong."
"These problems I cannot solve on my own. I can just investigate and urge [factory owners] to respect the labour law," he said.
Getting the story wrong
Keo Sarum, 27, a worker at Sky High, said local newspaper reports got the story wrong about
the protests.
"We did not collect thumbprints for a complaint against Yun Rithy, as the newspapers said. This was a trick by the factory owner in an attempt to divide the workers," Keo Sarum said.
"I would like to ask the publishers of [Deum Ampil and Kampuchea Thmey] where they got their information. Before they write something about us, they should come talk to us," She said.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Prince Ranariddh wrote a letter to inform Hun Sen of the truth
Prince Ranariddh talking to the press.
Kampuchea Thmey newspaper
9th January, 2009
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Prince Ranariddh wrote a letter to PM Hun Sen to clarify all the suspicions by saying that he was unaware of all the issues raised by PM Hun Sen.
In a reply to Prince Ranariddh, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that what PM Hun Sen has said was not because he was angry with the prince, but that he felt sorry for the prince that a group of people had been secretly working behind the scene without his knowledge.
(A few days ago, Mr. Hun Sen had publicly berated the prince for intending to form a council of ministers by accusing him of seeking to appoint 200 of his loyalists to work in the council by using his position as the supreme advisor of the king which has the rank equivalent to the rank of a prime minister).
Prince Ranaridhh had asked Mr. Hun Sen to provide the names of those who were working behind the scene to secure an appointment to the position in the royal palace. Mr. Kanharith said that what Mr. Hun Sen said had been backed up by sufficient evidence and that the names of those involved cannot be provided to the prince as requested.
Mr. Hun Sen said publicly during an inauguration ceremony of the Stung Meanchey Bridge that, currently, there is only one prime minister in the country. He said the Prince Ranariddh’s newly-appointed position as the supreme advisor of the king is only equivalent to the rank of the prime minister in salary only. In term of power, the position does not have the same power as the prime minister, so people must not be confused.
Mr. Hun Sen’s public attacks happened at the same when there are reports that some of Prince Ranariddh’s loyalists are working secretly to secure appointments to work in the royal palace with the prince.
In a letter to Mr. Hun Sen dated 9th of January Prince Ranariddh wrote: “I wish to thank Samdech (Hun Sen) who had always had a very good relationship with me in our capacity as brothers. Taking this opportunity, I wish to inform Samdech that I have attentively listened to Samdech’s speech, made during the inauguration of the Stung Meanchey Bridge on the morning of the 6th January 2009, which Samdech had raised a few issues related to me personally.”
“Please Samdech Dejo be informed that after I was appointed by the king to be his supreme advisor, which has a rank equivalent to the prime minister, I have never requested to appoint anyone to be my advisors, assistants, cabinet directors or spokesmen under the umbrella of the king. I only have 3-4 personal assistants who are not political appointees.”
“I wish to thank Samdech for raising the issues of someone working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. In the past, a newspaper called “Moneaksekar Khmer” has written an article accusing me of appointing 200 of my loyalists to work in the royal palace. But later, that newspaper has written a letter of apology to me for the publication of untrue information.”
“I did not know about anyone who are working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. What I said is the truth. In this context, I wish to ask Samdech to provide the names of those who are working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. I reserve the rights to take legal actions against those people in the aim of protecting my honour as well as to stop the culprits‘ actions.”
At the end of the letter, Prince Ranariddh sent his best wishes to Samdech Hun Sen. Mr. Khieu Kanharith has said that Mr. Hun Sen had received the prince’s letter but added that PM Hun Sen cannot provide the names of people who had allegedly been working behind the scene to recruit people as requested by Prince Ranariddh. However, what PM Hun Sen had raised have been backed up by sufficient evidence, he said.//
9th January, 2009
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Prince Ranariddh wrote a letter to PM Hun Sen to clarify all the suspicions by saying that he was unaware of all the issues raised by PM Hun Sen.
In a reply to Prince Ranariddh, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that what PM Hun Sen has said was not because he was angry with the prince, but that he felt sorry for the prince that a group of people had been secretly working behind the scene without his knowledge.
(A few days ago, Mr. Hun Sen had publicly berated the prince for intending to form a council of ministers by accusing him of seeking to appoint 200 of his loyalists to work in the council by using his position as the supreme advisor of the king which has the rank equivalent to the rank of a prime minister).
Prince Ranaridhh had asked Mr. Hun Sen to provide the names of those who were working behind the scene to secure an appointment to the position in the royal palace. Mr. Kanharith said that what Mr. Hun Sen said had been backed up by sufficient evidence and that the names of those involved cannot be provided to the prince as requested.
Mr. Hun Sen said publicly during an inauguration ceremony of the Stung Meanchey Bridge that, currently, there is only one prime minister in the country. He said the Prince Ranariddh’s newly-appointed position as the supreme advisor of the king is only equivalent to the rank of the prime minister in salary only. In term of power, the position does not have the same power as the prime minister, so people must not be confused.
Mr. Hun Sen’s public attacks happened at the same when there are reports that some of Prince Ranariddh’s loyalists are working secretly to secure appointments to work in the royal palace with the prince.
In a letter to Mr. Hun Sen dated 9th of January Prince Ranariddh wrote: “I wish to thank Samdech (Hun Sen) who had always had a very good relationship with me in our capacity as brothers. Taking this opportunity, I wish to inform Samdech that I have attentively listened to Samdech’s speech, made during the inauguration of the Stung Meanchey Bridge on the morning of the 6th January 2009, which Samdech had raised a few issues related to me personally.”
“Please Samdech Dejo be informed that after I was appointed by the king to be his supreme advisor, which has a rank equivalent to the prime minister, I have never requested to appoint anyone to be my advisors, assistants, cabinet directors or spokesmen under the umbrella of the king. I only have 3-4 personal assistants who are not political appointees.”
“I wish to thank Samdech for raising the issues of someone working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. In the past, a newspaper called “Moneaksekar Khmer” has written an article accusing me of appointing 200 of my loyalists to work in the royal palace. But later, that newspaper has written a letter of apology to me for the publication of untrue information.”
“I did not know about anyone who are working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. What I said is the truth. In this context, I wish to ask Samdech to provide the names of those who are working behind the scene to recruit people to work with me. I reserve the rights to take legal actions against those people in the aim of protecting my honour as well as to stop the culprits‘ actions.”
At the end of the letter, Prince Ranariddh sent his best wishes to Samdech Hun Sen. Mr. Khieu Kanharith has said that Mr. Hun Sen had received the prince’s letter but added that PM Hun Sen cannot provide the names of people who had allegedly been working behind the scene to recruit people as requested by Prince Ranariddh. However, what PM Hun Sen had raised have been backed up by sufficient evidence, he said.//
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Samdech Hun Sen told opposition parties to open their eyes to see national progress
Kampuchea Thmey newspaper
8th December, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
PM Hun Sen (pictured) has launched a personal attack on the Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers who intervened to divert the agenda of the parliamentary session during a parliamentary debate on the 8th of December. The parliamentary session had two agenda: the debate on the draft of the 2009 Financial Accountability Laws and a motion to appoint Gen. Teng Savong as the Secretary of State of Ministry of Interior and the appointment of Mr. Ik Sarou as the Member of Parliament for Pailin.
Samdech Hun Sen said that the campaign season has finished so the opposition parties should not try to exploit for their own political gains and that we must work together. He said that everybody has eyes and he hopes that they will open their eyes to see what Cambodia had in the past and that they must recognise what they don’t see in the past and what they can see now. They must see the whole forest, not see just one tree, he said.
In his reply to questions from the opposition party, PM Hun Sen said despite the defence and security took up 19.5% of the national budget, but it is only equivalent to 1.85% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But the expenditure on social affairs is 34.7% of the national budget which is equivalent to 3.30% of GDP.
Mr. Cheam Yeap, chairman of parliamentary committee on economy, finance, banking said that most increases on defence budget are due to chapter 64 of the draft laws which focussed on the salaries of public servants and military and security personnel which have received their pay-rises in the last few years.
PM Hun Sen responded to Mrs. Mu Sochua who criticised the government for spending to much on road constructions at the expense of social affairs. The PM said that the roads were also built for Khmer women. He said that may be Mrs. Mu Sochua wanted the government to put the money into the women’s pockets before she will recognise that the government has helped the women.
PM Hun Sen said that everything is inter-related so he asked the opposition not to view the government as a child who know nothing. Mr. Hun Sen said that if the opposition parties are good the people will vote for them. Because they are no good that’s why the people didn’t vote for them and instead they voted for his Cambodian People’s Party.
In regards to the opposition Sam Rainsy Party’s criticism of the land issues, Mr. Hun Sen said that the government recognised that there are problems because in the 1980s the state distributed one hectare of lands to a family with only 3 people ( father, mother and a son). But now the same family has increased their family members to 10 people but they still live on the same one hectare of lands.
Mr. Hun Sen said that in 1979 Cambodia only had a population of 5 million but now Cambodia has a population of about 14 million. So, if we have confiscated the lands from the people throughout the country as has been accused by the opposition party, may be the Cambodian People’s Party will not win any single seat in the parliament, he said.//
8th December, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
PM Hun Sen (pictured) has launched a personal attack on the Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers who intervened to divert the agenda of the parliamentary session during a parliamentary debate on the 8th of December. The parliamentary session had two agenda: the debate on the draft of the 2009 Financial Accountability Laws and a motion to appoint Gen. Teng Savong as the Secretary of State of Ministry of Interior and the appointment of Mr. Ik Sarou as the Member of Parliament for Pailin.
Samdech Hun Sen said that the campaign season has finished so the opposition parties should not try to exploit for their own political gains and that we must work together. He said that everybody has eyes and he hopes that they will open their eyes to see what Cambodia had in the past and that they must recognise what they don’t see in the past and what they can see now. They must see the whole forest, not see just one tree, he said.
In his reply to questions from the opposition party, PM Hun Sen said despite the defence and security took up 19.5% of the national budget, but it is only equivalent to 1.85% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But the expenditure on social affairs is 34.7% of the national budget which is equivalent to 3.30% of GDP.
Mr. Cheam Yeap, chairman of parliamentary committee on economy, finance, banking said that most increases on defence budget are due to chapter 64 of the draft laws which focussed on the salaries of public servants and military and security personnel which have received their pay-rises in the last few years.
PM Hun Sen responded to Mrs. Mu Sochua who criticised the government for spending to much on road constructions at the expense of social affairs. The PM said that the roads were also built for Khmer women. He said that may be Mrs. Mu Sochua wanted the government to put the money into the women’s pockets before she will recognise that the government has helped the women.
PM Hun Sen said that everything is inter-related so he asked the opposition not to view the government as a child who know nothing. Mr. Hun Sen said that if the opposition parties are good the people will vote for them. Because they are no good that’s why the people didn’t vote for them and instead they voted for his Cambodian People’s Party.
In regards to the opposition Sam Rainsy Party’s criticism of the land issues, Mr. Hun Sen said that the government recognised that there are problems because in the 1980s the state distributed one hectare of lands to a family with only 3 people ( father, mother and a son). But now the same family has increased their family members to 10 people but they still live on the same one hectare of lands.
Mr. Hun Sen said that in 1979 Cambodia only had a population of 5 million but now Cambodia has a population of about 14 million. So, if we have confiscated the lands from the people throughout the country as has been accused by the opposition party, may be the Cambodian People’s Party will not win any single seat in the parliament, he said.//
Monday, June 09, 2008
King-Father scolds the pro-CPP Kampuchea Thmey newspaper for its wrong translation of his text
The above letter was sent to the editor of the Kampuchea Thmey newspaper by Ké Kimsè of the Royal Cabinet office regarding the wrong translationTranslated from French by Luc Sâr
Communiqué
From
Norodom Sihanouk
Phnom Penh, 07 June 2008
From
Norodom Sihanouk
Phnom Penh, 07 June 2008
In my recent texts written in French, I talked about “modest hotel room,” “modest food”…
Now, Khmer newspapers translated and wrote that I had talked about luxurious (ប្រណិត) –sic!!– hotel room, luxurious (ប្រណិត)–sic!!– food.
In my French-Khmer dictionary (by Tip Youk and Thav Kun), it is written: “modest=មិនសូវឆើត [not too flashy].”
I asked the persons involved not to translate “black” by “ស” [white] and “white” by “ខ្មៅ” [black].
(Signed) N. Sihanouk ន សីហនុ
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
CAMBODIA: A military police officer threatened a woman journalist in Kompong Thom province
4 December 2007
CAMBODIA: Threats; illegal wire-tapping
CAMBODIA: Threats; illegal wire-tapping
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding threat of a journalist by military police captain on 27 November 2007. The journalist was interviewing with military police commander Lork Vong of Sandan district in Kampong Thom province regarding a brawl involving two military police officers. While the journalist was interviewing, a military police captain was wire-tapping the conversation, cut in and threatened her saying, "Do the job properly, otherwise I will break your legs". The journalist has since feared for her safety and security due to this threat.
CASE DETAILS:
At around 7:35am on 28 November 2007, Ms. Som Sithavry, a journalist from the Khmer-language newspaper Kampuchea Thmei, conducted a phone interview with the military police commander Lork Vong of Sandan district in the same province from her house. Her house is located at 6 kilometers from Kampong Thom City, the capital of Kampong Thom province. She had wanted to check with that commander the veracity of the story before she wrote it.
The story was about a brawl that occurred on November 27 and involved two military police officers. One officer is Ky from Sandan district whom Lork Wong assigned to keep law and order at a ceremony and dance party in the night of 27 November in Yeak Teay village, Khleng commune, Sandan district. The other, Ron from the neighbouring district Prasat Sambor was off duty and went to join the ceremony with a few villagers one of whom carried his rifle. Some people got drunk, started to quarrel and had a brawl which drew in both Ky and Ron who pointed their guns at each other. Villagers managed to stop and separate both of them in time before any shot was fired. Nevertheless, the armed confrontation between the two officers was very frightening to villagers who were taking part in the ceremony and the dance.
Lork Vong was at the provincial military police headquarters in Kompong Thom City when he received Som Sithavry's call. While she was in the middle of interviewing, a military police captain Bun Thy Soon, head of the crime investigation bureau of the provincial military police, wire-tapped this phone call. During the interview, Bun Thy Soon suddenly cut in and threaten her with saying "do your job properly; don't do anything stupid; abide by journalism ethics; otherwise, I'll break your legs."
Lork Vong also heard the threat while he was confirming the veracity of the story of the brawl. A few moments after the end of the interview, he called Som Sithavry to tell her that the threat was not from him; it was from Bun Thy.
Som Sithavry has since then had fear for her safety and security. She has been very worried about that threat as she is a woman and has to travel around in the province where there have been previous threats to journalists.
The AHRC holds that Military Police Captain Bun Thy's tapping of Ms Som Sithavry is a violation of her right to privacy, and his threat against her is a violation of her right to security and is also a violation of press freedom. All these rights are guaranteed and protected by the constitution of Cambodia. Observance of and respect for them are part of that country's international human rights obligations by virtue of its adherence to all human rights norms and standards.
Action should be taken against Bun Thy. Effective measures should also be taken to put an end to all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and to protect press freedom in Cambodia.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Earlier in June, a Radio Free Asia reporter named Lem Pichpisey received a death threat through his mobile phone after he reported on the illegal logging activities and massive deforestation in that province. Lem Pichpisey had to go into hiding for some time before resuming his journalism (See further; UP-088-2007, UP-148-2007).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In Cambodia there are two different police forces to keep law and order. They are doing basically the same job. One force is called the national police. This force is a civilian force though its members have the same ranks as members of the army. It is placed under the Ministry of Interior. It is organized, in descendant order, in provincial units headed by provincial police commissioners, district units headed by police inspectors and commune units headed by police chiefs.
The other force is the military police which is a department of the Ministry of National Defence, but for all intents and purposes, it is under the direct command of the prime minister. It is organized in provincial units headed by commanders and district units also headed by commanders. Its members are army officers. They are better trained, better equipped and rougher in dealing with the public than their counterparts in the national police. People fear them more than national police officers. They wear military uniform, and they apply military discipline in their job.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send your letters to the authorities listed below to call for action against the military police captain Bun Thy, for an end to all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and for protection of press freedom in Cambodia. The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia calling for intervention into this case.
Suggested letter:
Dear___________,
CAMBODIA: A military police officer threatened a woman journalist in Kompong Thom Province
Name of victim: Ms Som Sithavry, 28 years old, a journalist from the Khmer-language newspaper 'Kampuchea Thmei'
Name of alleged perpetrator: Bun Thy, Military Police Captain, head of the crime investigation bureau of the military police of Kompong Thom province
Date of incident: 27 November 2007
Place of incident: Kompong Thom City, Kompong Thom Province
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the threat by the military police captain named Bun Thy against Ms Som Sithavry, a journalist for Kampuchea Thmei newspaper, on 27 November 2007.
I am informed that on 28 November at 7:35am, Ms Som Sithavry, 28, conducted a phone interview with the military police commander named Lork Vong of Sandan district in Kompong Thom Province. She had wanted to check with that commander the veracity of a story about a brawl that had happened the night before and involved two military police officers named Ky and Ron at a ceremony and dance party on the night of 27 November in Yeak Teay village, Khleng commune, Sandan district in Kompong Thom province.
Lork Vong was at the provincial military police headquarters in Kompong Thom City when he received Som Sithavry's call. A military police captain named Bun Thy Soon, head of the crime investigation bureau of the provincial military police, tapped her phone. A while after her interview, he cut in and gave orders followed by a threat to her, saying "do your job properly; don't do anything stupid; abide by journalism ethics; or else, I'll break your legs."
Lork Vong heard, and later confirmed, Bun Thy's threat while he was confirming the veracity of the story of the brawl in which the two officers had been involved.
Som Sithavry has since then had fear for her safety and security. She has been very worried about that threat as she is a woman and has to travel to do her job in the province where there have been previous intimidation and threats to journalists.
I hold that Bun Thy's tapping of Ms Som Sithavry is a violation of her right to privacy, and his threat against her is a violation of her right to security and is also a violation of press freedom. All these rights are guaranteed and protected by the constitution of Cambodia. Observance of and respect for them are part of that country's international human rights obligations by virtue of its adherence to all human rights norms and standards.
Therefore, I strongly urge you to take action against Military Police, Bun Thy, for his phone tapping, for his threat against Ms Som Sithavry and also his violation of press freedom. Effective measures should also be taken to end all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and to protect press freedom in Cambodia.
I trust that you will take immediate action into this case.
Yours sincerely,
-----------------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 2321 9898
Fax: +855 23 36 0666
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
2. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy-Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
No.275 Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax/phone: +855 23 721 905 / 23 726 052 / 23 721 190
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh or moi@interior.gov.kh
3. Mr. Tea banh
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of National Defence
Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23 883184 / 428171
Fax: +855-23 883184
E-mail: info@mond.gov.kh
4. Mr. Ang Vong Vathna
Minster of Justice
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 36 4119 / 21 6622
E-mail: moj@cambodia.gov.kh
5. Mr. Kiev Kanharith
Minister of Information
No 62 Monivong Blvd., Phnom Penh
Tel:+855-23 724159 / 426059 / 723389
Fax: +855-23 427475
E-mail: information@cambodia.gov.kh
6. Mr. Henro Raken
Prosecutor-General
Court of Appeal
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 11 86 27 70
Fax: +855 23 21 66 22
7. General Hok Lundy
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 21 65 85
Fax: +855 23 22 09 52
8. General Sao Sokha
Commander
Military Police
Mao Tse Tung Blvd
Khan Tuol Kok
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855 12 36 3636
9. Mr. Christophe Peschoux
Director
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Cambodia
N 10, Street 302
Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I
Khan Chamcar Mon
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855 23 987 671 / 987 672, 993 590 / 993 591 or +855 23 216 342
Fax: +855 23 212 579 / 213 587
E-mail: cpeschoux@ohchr.org
Thank you.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding threat of a journalist by military police captain on 27 November 2007. The journalist was interviewing with military police commander Lork Vong of Sandan district in Kampong Thom province regarding a brawl involving two military police officers. While the journalist was interviewing, a military police captain was wire-tapping the conversation, cut in and threatened her saying, "Do the job properly, otherwise I will break your legs". The journalist has since feared for her safety and security due to this threat.
CASE DETAILS:
At around 7:35am on 28 November 2007, Ms. Som Sithavry, a journalist from the Khmer-language newspaper Kampuchea Thmei, conducted a phone interview with the military police commander Lork Vong of Sandan district in the same province from her house. Her house is located at 6 kilometers from Kampong Thom City, the capital of Kampong Thom province. She had wanted to check with that commander the veracity of the story before she wrote it.
The story was about a brawl that occurred on November 27 and involved two military police officers. One officer is Ky from Sandan district whom Lork Wong assigned to keep law and order at a ceremony and dance party in the night of 27 November in Yeak Teay village, Khleng commune, Sandan district. The other, Ron from the neighbouring district Prasat Sambor was off duty and went to join the ceremony with a few villagers one of whom carried his rifle. Some people got drunk, started to quarrel and had a brawl which drew in both Ky and Ron who pointed their guns at each other. Villagers managed to stop and separate both of them in time before any shot was fired. Nevertheless, the armed confrontation between the two officers was very frightening to villagers who were taking part in the ceremony and the dance.
Lork Vong was at the provincial military police headquarters in Kompong Thom City when he received Som Sithavry's call. While she was in the middle of interviewing, a military police captain Bun Thy Soon, head of the crime investigation bureau of the provincial military police, wire-tapped this phone call. During the interview, Bun Thy Soon suddenly cut in and threaten her with saying "do your job properly; don't do anything stupid; abide by journalism ethics; otherwise, I'll break your legs."
Lork Vong also heard the threat while he was confirming the veracity of the story of the brawl. A few moments after the end of the interview, he called Som Sithavry to tell her that the threat was not from him; it was from Bun Thy.
Som Sithavry has since then had fear for her safety and security. She has been very worried about that threat as she is a woman and has to travel around in the province where there have been previous threats to journalists.
The AHRC holds that Military Police Captain Bun Thy's tapping of Ms Som Sithavry is a violation of her right to privacy, and his threat against her is a violation of her right to security and is also a violation of press freedom. All these rights are guaranteed and protected by the constitution of Cambodia. Observance of and respect for them are part of that country's international human rights obligations by virtue of its adherence to all human rights norms and standards.
Action should be taken against Bun Thy. Effective measures should also be taken to put an end to all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and to protect press freedom in Cambodia.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Earlier in June, a Radio Free Asia reporter named Lem Pichpisey received a death threat through his mobile phone after he reported on the illegal logging activities and massive deforestation in that province. Lem Pichpisey had to go into hiding for some time before resuming his journalism (See further; UP-088-2007, UP-148-2007).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In Cambodia there are two different police forces to keep law and order. They are doing basically the same job. One force is called the national police. This force is a civilian force though its members have the same ranks as members of the army. It is placed under the Ministry of Interior. It is organized, in descendant order, in provincial units headed by provincial police commissioners, district units headed by police inspectors and commune units headed by police chiefs.
The other force is the military police which is a department of the Ministry of National Defence, but for all intents and purposes, it is under the direct command of the prime minister. It is organized in provincial units headed by commanders and district units also headed by commanders. Its members are army officers. They are better trained, better equipped and rougher in dealing with the public than their counterparts in the national police. People fear them more than national police officers. They wear military uniform, and they apply military discipline in their job.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send your letters to the authorities listed below to call for action against the military police captain Bun Thy, for an end to all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and for protection of press freedom in Cambodia. The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia calling for intervention into this case.
Suggested letter:
Dear___________,
CAMBODIA: A military police officer threatened a woman journalist in Kompong Thom Province
Name of victim: Ms Som Sithavry, 28 years old, a journalist from the Khmer-language newspaper 'Kampuchea Thmei'
Name of alleged perpetrator: Bun Thy, Military Police Captain, head of the crime investigation bureau of the military police of Kompong Thom province
Date of incident: 27 November 2007
Place of incident: Kompong Thom City, Kompong Thom Province
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the threat by the military police captain named Bun Thy against Ms Som Sithavry, a journalist for Kampuchea Thmei newspaper, on 27 November 2007.
I am informed that on 28 November at 7:35am, Ms Som Sithavry, 28, conducted a phone interview with the military police commander named Lork Vong of Sandan district in Kompong Thom Province. She had wanted to check with that commander the veracity of a story about a brawl that had happened the night before and involved two military police officers named Ky and Ron at a ceremony and dance party on the night of 27 November in Yeak Teay village, Khleng commune, Sandan district in Kompong Thom province.
Lork Vong was at the provincial military police headquarters in Kompong Thom City when he received Som Sithavry's call. A military police captain named Bun Thy Soon, head of the crime investigation bureau of the provincial military police, tapped her phone. A while after her interview, he cut in and gave orders followed by a threat to her, saying "do your job properly; don't do anything stupid; abide by journalism ethics; or else, I'll break your legs."
Lork Vong heard, and later confirmed, Bun Thy's threat while he was confirming the veracity of the story of the brawl in which the two officers had been involved.
Som Sithavry has since then had fear for her safety and security. She has been very worried about that threat as she is a woman and has to travel to do her job in the province where there have been previous intimidation and threats to journalists.
I hold that Bun Thy's tapping of Ms Som Sithavry is a violation of her right to privacy, and his threat against her is a violation of her right to security and is also a violation of press freedom. All these rights are guaranteed and protected by the constitution of Cambodia. Observance of and respect for them are part of that country's international human rights obligations by virtue of its adherence to all human rights norms and standards.
Therefore, I strongly urge you to take action against Military Police, Bun Thy, for his phone tapping, for his threat against Ms Som Sithavry and also his violation of press freedom. Effective measures should also be taken to end all intimidation and threats against Ms Som Sithavry and other journalists, and to protect press freedom in Cambodia.
I trust that you will take immediate action into this case.
Yours sincerely,
-----------------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 2321 9898
Fax: +855 23 36 0666
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
2. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy-Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
No.275 Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax/phone: +855 23 721 905 / 23 726 052 / 23 721 190
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh or moi@interior.gov.kh
3. Mr. Tea banh
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of National Defence
Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23 883184 / 428171
Fax: +855-23 883184
E-mail: info@mond.gov.kh
4. Mr. Ang Vong Vathna
Minster of Justice
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 36 4119 / 21 6622
E-mail: moj@cambodia.gov.kh
5. Mr. Kiev Kanharith
Minister of Information
No 62 Monivong Blvd., Phnom Penh
Tel:+855-23 724159 / 426059 / 723389
Fax: +855-23 427475
E-mail: information@cambodia.gov.kh
6. Mr. Henro Raken
Prosecutor-General
Court of Appeal
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 11 86 27 70
Fax: +855 23 21 66 22
7. General Hok Lundy
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 21 65 85
Fax: +855 23 22 09 52
8. General Sao Sokha
Commander
Military Police
Mao Tse Tung Blvd
Khan Tuol Kok
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855 12 36 3636
9. Mr. Christophe Peschoux
Director
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Cambodia
N 10, Street 302
Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I
Khan Chamcar Mon
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855 23 987 671 / 987 672, 993 590 / 993 591 or +855 23 216 342
Fax: +855 23 212 579 / 213 587
E-mail: cpeschoux@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Military Official Accused of Threatening Journalist [working for a pro-gov't newspaper]
By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 November 2007
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 November 2007
A female journalist for a small Cambodian newspaper claims she was threatened over the phone by a military official.
Som Sithavry, 28, of Kampuchea Thmei, said she was told she deserved to be "beaten," following her coverage of a clash between military and police in Kampong Thom province.
Som Sithavry said she was interviewing Lork Vong, a military police chief in Kampong Thom province, when Bun Thy, a military policeman, got on the phone with her and threatened her.
"Actually, the threat is indirect," Som Sithavry said Wednesday. "He said to do whatever is right, respect journalism ethics, or my legs would be broken."
Bun Thy refused the allegations but did not comment further.
Som Sithavry, 28, of Kampuchea Thmei, said she was told she deserved to be "beaten," following her coverage of a clash between military and police in Kampong Thom province.
Som Sithavry said she was interviewing Lork Vong, a military police chief in Kampong Thom province, when Bun Thy, a military policeman, got on the phone with her and threatened her.
"Actually, the threat is indirect," Som Sithavry said Wednesday. "He said to do whatever is right, respect journalism ethics, or my legs would be broken."
Bun Thy refused the allegations but did not comment further.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Reporter threatened with a gun on World Press Freedom Day
Friday, May 04, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
While Cambodian reporters are gathered to celebrate World Press Freedom Day on May 3, an report received from Battambang indicated that there was an army general who threatened to shoot a reporter. A number of local newspapers reported that a rich and powerful one-star general from the [Thai] border pulled out his handgun and threatened to shoot a reporter. The reporter was forced by the general to kneel in front of him to beg for pardon in a restaurant on 02 May. Chim Chenda, the victim, is a reporter for the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper, and Pol Sinuon, is the one-star army general who is also deputy director of the office of relation for the Cambodia-Thailand border. This incident occurred because the reporter called the general by his name (a sign of disrespect), infuriating the general who pulled out his handgun to threaten to shoot the reporter. Guests who participated in the banquet at the KO restaurant, criticized the general by saying that despite of the mistake committed by the reporter who called him by his name, the general should not pull his gun to try to shoot the reporter. The general took this action maybe because he was thinking that he has a lot of power, a lot of money, and wanted to show off his might in front of others.
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